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oat
cell carcinoma
see small
cell carcinoma.
oedema [oe-de-ma]
Swelling caused by an excessive accumulation of fluid
in the tissues of the body, i.e. outside the circulatory system.
oesophageal cancer [oe-soph-a-ge-al can-cer]
Cancer of the oesophagus.
The most common symptom is difficulty swallowing.
oesophagus [oe-soph-a-gus]
The gullet; the tube that connects the throat with the stomach, down which
food passes. See Diagram 1.
oestrogen receptor test [oe-stro-gen]
A test that determines whether a cancer relies on the hormone oestrogen for its growth, and may thus respond to hormone
therapy: see hormone
receptors. Also called oestrogen receptor assay.
oncologist [on-col-o-gist]
A doctor who specialises in the study and treatment
of cancer.
oncology [on-col-o-gy]
The branch of medicine concerned with the study and
treatment of cancer.
oophorectomy [oo-pho-rec-to-my]
Surgical removal of an ovary.
open biopsy
see biopsy.
opiates
Widely-used and effective painkillers made from opium, including
codeine and morphine. Opiates relieve pain and suppress coughing.
Side effects can include nausea and constipation, which can
be relieved with anti-nausea medications and laxatives.
opportunistic
infection
An infection caused by an organism that is normally
harmless, in a person whose resistance to disease is reduced.
This can happen as a result of cancer or cancer treatment.
orchidectomy [or-chi-dec-to-my]
Surgical removal of the testis (testicles).
organ
A structure in the body that is responsible for a specific
function or functions, including heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, ovaries.
oropharynx [o-ro-pha-rynx]
see pharynx.
orthopaedic surgeon [or-tho pae-dic sur-ge-on]
A doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating
diseases of the bones, tendons, joints and muscles.
osteogenic sarcoma [os-te-o
gen-ic sar-co-ma]
The most common form of bone
cancer. It usually affects teenagers and young adults, and
most often develops in a leg or arm bone. Also called osteosarcoma.
osteoma [os-te-o-ma]
A benign bone tumour (not
a cancer); a bony
lump or swelling most commonly found in the skull, jaw and limbs.
osteoporosis [os-te-o por-o-sis]
Loss of tissue from the bones, resulting in bones that
are brittle and liable to break. It is a condition common in the
elderly. It may occur in the later stages of certain types of cancer, as the bones
lose calcium.
osteosarcoma [os-te-o sar-co-ma]
see osteogenic
sarcoma.
ovarian cancer [o-va-ri-an]
Cancer that develops in an ovary or Fallopian
tube.
ovarian cyst
A swelling containing fluid in the region of the ovary.
Most are benign,
but a few are cancerous. An ovarian cyst may become quite large
(orange or grapefruit sized) before displaying any symptoms or
causing discomfort.
ovary [o-va-ry]
The main female reproductive organ.
A woman has two ovaries, which produce the female sex hormone oestrogen and, once a month, release an egg (ovum). The ovaries
are found in the lower abdomen either side of the uterus,
and are about the size of an almond. See Diagram
3.
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